The oven is one of those sleek appliances that can make any kitchen look contemporary and modern. However, ovens can also get dirty quickly, especially when doing heavy cooking activities like baking and cooking greasy food. If you notice that your oven has accumulated some oil strains and grease, it’s time to clean it. Stick until the end of this blog to learn the step-by-step guide on how to clean an oven without oven cleaner.
How to clean the inside of an oven
1. Remove the racks
Oven racks are the parts of the oven that gets dirty the most. They accumulate the most grease, stains, and food drippings. Racks are also a bit tedious to clean. When cleaning your oven, remove the racks first and soak them in boiling water mixed with dishwasher detergent. Get a large container like a round basin to soak your oven racks. Leave them for at least two hours before scrubbing them off with a brush or a microfiber cloth.
2. Use baking soda
If the inside of your oven or your oven racks have stains that are hard to remove, use baking soda instead of boiling water as your cleaner. Get a spray bottle and mix baking soda with vinegar. Spray the stubborn stains with the mixture and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it off.
3. Use your oven’s self-cleaning function
Ovens often come with a self-cleaning function. The oven is heated to around 880 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the cleaning procedure. The food within the oven burns up at this temperature, producing some ash as a byproduct. A moist towel works well to remove any remaining ash. It is the easiest and most effortless way of cleaning an oven because you don’t have to create any cleaning mixture to clean your oven.
4. Create a DIY oven cleaner
If your oven doesn’t have a self-cleaning feature, or perhaps you don’t want to activate the self-cleaning function for some reason, you can always create your own DIY oven cleaner. Simply get the cleaning ingredients like baking soda, water, and vinegar. Mix them together to create a paste-like texture. You can then use this cleaning mixture to clean your oven’s surface. Apply a bit of the paste on the inside and outside of your oven and scrub or wipe them with a microfiber cloth.
How to clean oven handles and knobs
1. Use microfiber cloths
Cleaning the handles and knobs of the oven is pretty simple. You can do this regularly after you use your oven. Simply get a microfiber cloth and wipe the handles and knobs thoroughly to remove any grease or stains. Use the oven cleaner mixture that you created as your spray cleaner. Doing this regularly will help maintain the good condition and appearance of your oven.
2. Don’t spray directly on the knob
Avoid spraying your oven cleaner directly on the knob because the liquid might penetrate in between the gaps or cracks of the handle, and it might affect the electrical circuit and function of your oven. What you can do instead is to spray a bit of the cleaning mixture on the microfiber cloth and wipe the handle or knob using the cloth. This will give your oven handle a cleaner and shiner surface.
How to clean oven doors
1. Use a baking soda and paste
Make a thick paste out of baking soda and water to clean the glass on your oven door without scratching it. Allow the paste to completely cover the glass and sit there for at least 20 minutes. The glass should then be properly rinsed with water, dried with a microfiber cloth, and polished for a bright shine.
2. Wipe the surface with a glass wiper or microfiber cloth
Use a glass wiper or a microfiber cloth to give your oven doors an extra shine. Spray a bit of detergent cleaner and wipe thoroughly until the surface is sleek and dry. Make sure to do this gently to prevent scratching or damaging the glass surface.
3. Unscrew the door to wipe off the dust from hard-to-reach areas
The glass oven door may occasionally be made of two pieces of glass, which over time, may cause crumbs, dust, or grease streaks to form. Despite requiring a few additional steps, cleaning this is simple. Unscrew the door of your oven to clean it properly. Use a vacuum hose and a tiny nozzle to remove dust and crumbs. Use a wet sponge with a long handle to remove grease.
How often should you clean your oven?
Ideally, you should clean your oven every month, but others recommend cleaning it between 3 to 6 months. It all depends on how often you use the oven for cooking and how heavy your cooking activities are in the kitchen. If you feel that your oven gets dirty easily, don’t wait for a few more months before cleaning it. If you have the time, grab your cleaning essentials and start cleaning your oven. The cleaner your kitchen is, the more you’ll enjoy cooking.
